Costco's parking lot raises the stakes in the age-old shopping cart debate. Here's what employees say you should do.
Is It Rude Not to Return Your Grocery Store Cart at Costco?
Published on Apr. 08, 2025
There are two types of people in the world: those who return their shopping carts and those who don’t—and the people who return their carts judge the ones who don’t with the fire of a thousand suns. Sound dramatic? There’s actually a “Shopping Cart Theory of Personality,” where your entire moral compass can be summed up by what you do with a metal basket on wheels when no one’s watching.
The theory goes like this: There’s no law that says you have to return your cart, but you should, per the unwritten rules of grocery store etiquette. It’s a tiny, effort-free way to be a decent human and help someone else. If you don’t? Well … you might not be a full-blown sociopath, but you’re probably the kind of person who casually contributes to chaos if it makes things more convenient for you.
Which brings us to Costco—a glorious, chaotic warehouse of bulk goods with oversized carts and really big, really crowded parking lots. It’s a microcosm of humanity, making it the perfect battleground for this debate: Is it rude not to return your cart at Costco?
To settle it once and for all, we talked to three Costco employees—including one current cart pusher—to find out what the appropriate cart etiquette is. Read on for the official verdict.
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Is it rude not to return your grocery store cart at Costco?
The answer to this modern moral dilemma is not as straightforward as you might think. So buckle up (or at least clip in your oversized tub of mayo!) and get ready for the arguments for and against this question so you can decide for yourself.
Yes, it’s rude
“Rude? Sure. But I’d say it’s more annoying than anything. It’s not the worst thing people do at Costco,” says Nicolette S., a manager at one of the busiest Costcos in the country. She adds that it gets more annoying the busier the store is.
Costco can feel like a gladiator arena of people with oversized carts, oversized pizzas and oversized plans for a Saturday—all fighting for a parking spot near the front. The parking lot alone is a major source of the conflict that happens at the warehouse, so when you leave your cart abandoned in the middle of a parking space, you’re actively causing problems.
However, the real issue, Nicolette says, is those carts are massive and mobile. If one of them starts rolling, it’s not gently tapping someone’s door—it’s causing a $600 insurance claim (and your 24 ice cream bars to melt) while you get it sorted out.
Returning your cart, especially at Costco, is a tiny act of decency in a world that desperately needs it. It says, “I see other people. I live in a society. I choose not to be a jerk today.”
No, it’s not rude
“I wouldn’t really call it ‘rude,'” says Mark B., an auditor and a manager at a separate Costco location. “The employees don’t mind much. We have full-time cart pushers who walk the lot all day and take care of the carts.” (Yes, he has done this job himself many times!)
And here’s where the counterargument rolls in—literally. You pay for a Costco membership, and part of that includes cart control. It’s someone’s actual job to wrangle those carts. So if you return your own, are you taking that job away?
Ehh, let’s not go full slippery slope. If we start doing things just to keep people employed, should we litter to give street sweepers work? Crash our cars to help insurance adjusters stay busy?
Still, there’s a sliver of truth. Cart attendants are a thing. They’re paid. And at Costco, they’re kind of superheroes—they’re basically traffic controllers, bodybuilders and cattle wranglers all in one. “I actually enjoy it. It’s interesting,” says Jordan M., a current cart pusher. “I put in my earbud and just listen to music and chill while I walk around outside. Unless it’s raining or snowing—then it sucks.”
The key to leaving your cart while not being rude? Don’t let your cart become a rogue missile. Mark agrees with Nicolette about this: “The issue with loose carts is when they hit cars. We do get general liability claims due to carts hitting cars fairly often.”
So if you’re not returning your cart, at least wedge it somewhere safe. Preferably not into a Lexus.
It depends
“I’d say it depends on the situation,” Jordan says. He explains that there’s a difference between “a guy in a lifted truck who is too entitled to walk his cart 20 feet” and “a mom with two kids in the cart trying to load up a ton of groceries in the rain.”
Context matters. Is someone waiting for your parking spot? Do you have a special circumstance that limits your ability? Is a cart attendant nearby? How far are you from a cart corral? (“We have them placed like every 30 feet in the parking lot, so unless you’re parked way out on the edges, it’ll just take you a few extra seconds,” Jordan points out.)
So how do you know what the right move is in the moment? It’s a judgment call. If you’re being considerate—making sure the cart is tucked safely out of the way—you’re probably good. Just don’t make it a habit. Think of it as the exception, not the rule.
Our final verdict
Yes, it’s rude not to return your cart. But like all rules, there are exceptions. Costco is a special breed of retail madness, and sometimes you have to make a snap decision in the parking-lot wilderness. If you do, at least push your cart to a spot where it can’t do damage. Jordan recommends pushing it up on the curb or the grass to get it out of the middle of a parking spot. Never leave it in the space between two parking spots.
Still, according to all three of our sources, the baseline etiquette should be to return the cart. It’s free. It’s easy. And it signals to the universe that you’re still trying to be a decent human. So roll that metal beast back to the corral—Costco hot dog in one hand, cart returned with the other. That’s how (polite) civilization survives.
Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of etiquette stories that help readers navigate communication in a changing world. We regularly cover topics such as the best messages to send for any occasion, polite habits that aren’t as polite as they seem, email and texting etiquette, business etiquette, tipping etiquette, travel etiquette and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on grocery cart etiquette at Costco, Charlotte Hilton Andersen tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who specializes in etiquette and communication for Reader’s Digest. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Nicolette S., manager and auditor at Costco; phone interview, April 4, 2025
- Mark B., manager and auditor at Costco; phone interview, April 4, 2025
- Jordan M., assistant at Costco; in-person interview, April 5, 2025
